Firearm Configuration For Reducing Recoil

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is a firearm configuration for a handgun. The firearm configuration is designed to reduce the recoil forces encountered by a user upon firing the weapon. Recoil forces are reduced by lowering the firearm&#39;s center of mass and by aligning a recoiling mass with the user&#39;s arm and trigger finger. The various detail of the present disclosure, and the manner in which they interrelate, will be described in greater detail hereinafter.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure relates to a firearm configuration. More specifically, the present invention relates to a firing mechanism that reduces recoil, both perceived and actual.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Handguns have grown increasingly more powerful over the years. As caliber size increases, so does the recoil of the firearm. Recoil is the rearward momentum generated by a firearm upon firing. Large caliber firearms generally create a substantial recoil impulse upon firing, which may cause the weapon to be forced upward due to an imbalance of forces. Unless properly adjusted for by the user, the recoil of a firearm may cause the user to fire inaccurately and miss the intended target.

For the foregoing reasons, efforts have been made over the years to reduce the amount of recoil generated by a firearm. For instance, U.S. Pat. No. 6,742,297 to Lakatos discloses a firearm recoil reduction method. The method employs a spring, a trigger housing and a barrel. Additionally, U.S. Pat. No. 4,388,855 to Sokolovsky discloses a firearm pneumatic slide decelerator assembly. The assembly includes a recoil spring in proximity to a trigger housing. U.S. Pat. No. 5,069,110 to Menck discloses an impact buffering recoil mechanism. The mechanism includes a recoil spring in proximity to a trigger housing.

Although each of these inventions achieves its own individual objective, none of the background art relates to a mechanism for lessening recoil by lowering a firearm's center of mass. The firearm configuration described herein is aimed at overcoming these and other shortcomings noted in the background art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The disclosed system has several important advantages. For example, the disclosed firearm configuration reduces the recoil encountered by the user.

A further possible advantage is that recoil forces are reduced by lowering the firearm's center of reciprocating mass. A manufacturer may further reduce recoil by overweighting the reciprocating mass in line with the hand past what is necessary for basic structural integrity.

Still yet another possible advantage of the present system is to lower the axis along which recoil forces are generated to thereby lessen the associated torque.

Another advantage of the present system is to improve the user's capacity for accuracy by reducing recoil. Higher recoil forces disrupt most firearm users' concentration and inflame something akin to the “fight or flight” instinct, so less recoil equals less psychological disruption, which in turn promotes the users' capacity for accurate fire.

Another advantage is realized by utilizing a firearm configuration that allows the manufacturer to integrate the recoil spring guide rod with the frame, resulting in fewer parts and lowering manufacturing costs. This also has the beneficial result of simplified disassembly procedures for the end user and increased reliability of the weapon.

A further advantage is that the firearm configuration of the present disclosure decreases overall weapon height with no appreciable reduction in magazine capacity as compared to known designs. Alternatively, the present configuration can result in a weapon of equal height to known designs, but with an increased magazine capacity.

A further advantage of the present system is that it allows a user to execute quicker follow-up shots, as the recoil forces impeding faster shots will be reduced.

The firearm configuration of the present disclosure also reduces the recoil of a given cartridge, which allows more powerful ammunition to be utilized with approximately the same recoil as a conventional configuration. The use of more powerful ammunition, in turn, allows for a flatter bullet trajectory and thus increased effective range of a handgun. Also, the ability to use more powerful ammunition with the same recoil allows for the use of larger-caliber armor-penetrating bullets, resulting in increased lethality and effectiveness on the battlefield.

Another advantage is that the system provides for a lower barrel axis when combined with a rotating barrel locking mechanism, further reducing recoil.

The advantages of the present system may be further maximized by using any or all of the following additional design elements: use of a sliding trigger assembly, use of a striker firing mechanism, or use of external or “slide in frame” guide rails.

Various embodiments of the invention may have none, some, or all of these advantages. Other technical advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent to one skilled in the art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of the present disclosure and its advantages, reference is now made to the following descriptions, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a cross sectional view of the firearm configuration prior to firing.

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of the firearm configuration after firing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present disclosure relates to a firearm configuration for a handgun. The firearm configuration is designed to reduce the recoil forces encountered by a user upon firing the weapon. Recoil forces are reduced by lowering the firearm's center of mass and by aligning a recoil mass with the user's arm and trigger finger. The various details of the present disclosure, and the manner in which they interrelate, will be described in greater detail hereinafter.

With reference now to FIGS. 1 and 2, the firearm configuration (10) of the present disclosure is disclosed. As noted, configuration (10) assists in reducing recoil forces encountered by the user of an associated firearm (12). The configuration (10) includes an upper housing (14). Upper housing (14) houses a barrel (16) and a firing assembly (18). The barrel (16) and firing assembly (18) are of a conventional construction. The specific trigger (28) and trigger assembly (32) depicted are of the type found in the Glock® series of handguns. Upper housing (14) further includes a recoil mass (22) with an opening. As noted in the figures, barrel (16) and firing assembly (18) are positioned in axial alignment with one another and are positioned along a first axis (24). The firing assembly (18) can take the form of a conventional striker firing assembly or a conventional hammer firing assembly. The use of other conventional firing assemblies is also within the scope of the present disclosure. One suitable firing assembly is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 8,156,677 entitled “Assemblies and Firearms Incorporating such Assemblies,” which issued to Gaston Glock on Apr. 17, 2012. The contents of this issued patent are fully incorporated herein for all purposes.

Configuration (10) further includes a lower housing (26) that is slidably interconnected to the upper housing (14). A trigger (28) and trigger assembly (32) are positioned within the lower housing (26). The disclosed trigger (28) is a pivoting trigger, but sliding triggers can also be used in connection with the present invention. The depicted trigger (28) and trigger assembly (32) are of the type found in the Glock® series of handguns, as well as U.S. Pat. No. 8,156,677, and are of a standard and well known construction. In accordance with the invention, trigger (28) pivots about a second axis (34). Second axis (34) is positioned below, and is perpendicular to, the first axis (24). The trigger assembly (32) is interconnected to the striker assembly (18). As is known in the art, ammunition (38) is delivered upwardly from the magazine (36) under a spring force into the upper housing (14). Individual cartridges to be fired are delivered between the barrel (16) and the firing assembly (18). Trigger assembly (32) is used to selectively actuate the striker assembly (18) and fire the firearm (12). The relationship between trigger assembly (32) and striker assembly (18) will be appreciated to those of ordinary skill in the art. The exact mechanism employed does not form part of the present invention and can be similar to that utilized by the type found in the Glock® series of handguns.

Lower housing (26) further includes a guide rod (42) and recoil spring (44) that extend through the opening in the recoil mass (22). Recoil spring (44) has an end seated within recoil mass (22). Guide rod (42) is positioned along a third axis (46). The third axis (46) is positioned below the second axis (34). Guide rod (42) is integral with the lower housing (26).

In accordance with the present disclosure, when a user fires firearm (12), the upper housing (14) slides back with respect to the lower housing (26). This action, in turn, causes the recoil mass (22) to slide along the guide rod (42) to compress the recoil spring (44). The recoil generated by firearm (12) is reduced by positioning the third axis (46) below the first and second axes (24 and 34). This ensures that the recoil mass (22) is in alignment with the user's trigger finger and/or arm. This effectively lowers the firearm's center of recoil mass as noted in FIG. 1. By lowering the center of recoiling mass, there is no lever arm created between the trigger finger or arm and the center of recoiling mass. Such a lever arm would multiply any recoil forces and produce unwanted torque.

Although this disclosure has been described in terms of certain embodiments and generally associated methods, alterations and permutations of these embodiments and methods will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the above description of example embodiments does not define or constrain this disclosure. Other changes, substitutions, and alterations are also possible without departing from the spirit and scope of this disclosure. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A firearm configuration (10) for reducing recoil forces encountered by the user of a firearm (12), the firearm configuration (10) comprising: an upper housing (14), the upper housing including a barrel (16) and a firing assembly (18), the upper housing (14) having a recoil mass (22) with an opening, the barrel (16) and firing assembly (18) being positioned along a first axis (24); a lower housing (26) slidably interconnected to the upper housing (14), a trigger (28) and trigger assembly (32) positioned within the lower housing (26), the trigger (28) pivoting about a second axis (34), the second axis (34) being positioned below the first axis (24), the trigger assembly (32) being interconnected to the firing assembly (18), a magazine (36) with ammunition (38), the ammunition (38) being delivered upwardly into the upper housing (14) between the barrel (16) and the firing assembly (18), the trigger assembly (32) being used to selectively actuate the firing assembly (18) and fire the firearm (12), the lower housing (26) further including a guide rod (42) and recoil spring (44) extending through the opening in the recoil mass (22), the guide rod (42) being positioned along a third axis (46), the third axis (46) being positioned below the second axis (34); wherein after firing the firearm (12), the upper housing (14) slides back with respect to the lower housing (26) and the recoil mass (22) slides along the guide rod (42) thereby compressing the recoil spring (44), and wherein the recoil of the firearm (12) is reduced by positioning the third axis (46) below the first and second axes (24 and 34).
 2. A firearm configuration (10) for reducing recoil forces encountered by the user of a firearm (12), the firearm configuration(10) being triggered by the user's trigger finger, the firearm configuration comprising: an upper housing (14), the upper housing including a barrel (16) and a firing assembly (18), the upper housing (14) having a recoil mass (22) with an opening; a lower housing (26) slidably interconnected to the upper housing (14), a trigger (28) and trigger assembly (32) positioned within the lower housing (26), the trigger assembly (32) being interconnected to the firing assembly (18), the trigger assembly (32) being used to selectively actuate the firing assembly (18) and fire the firearm (12), the lower housing (26) further including a recoil rod (42) and recoil spring (44) extending through the opening in the recoil mass (22); wherein after firing the firearm (12), the upper housing (14) slides back with respect to the lower housing (26) and the recoil mass (22) slides along the guide rod (42) thereby compressing the recoil spring (44), and wherein the recoil of the firearm (12) is reduced by positioning the recoil mass (22) substantially in line with the user's trigger finger or arm.
 3. The firearm configuration (10) as described in claim 2 further comprising a magazine (36) with ammunition (38), the ammunition (38) being delivered upwardly into the upper housing (14) between the barrel (16) and the firing assembly (18).
 4. The firearm configuration (10) as described in claim 2 wherein a first axis (24) extends along the barrel (16), the trigger (28) pivots about a second axis (34), a third axis (46) extends along the guide rod (42) and wherein the third axis (46) is located substantially below the first axis (24) and the second axis (34).
 5. A firearm configuration for reducing the recoil forces in a firearm comprising: an upper housing containing a barrel and a firing assembly and a recoil mass; a lower housing slidably interconnected to the upper housing, a trigger positioned within the lower housing, the trigger being interconnected to the firing assembly, the lower housing further including a guide rod and recoil spring extending through the recoil mass; wherein after firing the firearm, the upper housing slides back with respect to the lower housing and the recoil mass slides along the guide rod to thereby compress the recoil spring, and wherein the recoil of the firearm is reduced by positioning the recoil mass beneath the topmost external portion of the trigger. 